Uterine Fibroids (cont.)

Medical Author:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Medical Editor:

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

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Uterine Fibroids Diagnosis

A woman's health care practitioner will discuss her medical history and conduct a physical examination that includes a pelvic exam. Often a doctor can feel an irregularly shaped uterus when fibroids are present.

If further studies are indicated, the doctor may choose one of the following tests to help decide if the patient has fibroids and to exclude other and potentially more serious causes of ongoing symptoms:

An abdominal, transvaginal or pelvic ultrasound can help identify the number, size, and shape of most fibroids. These test use sound waves to give doctors an image of the pelvic area. A wand is passed over the abdomen (abdominal ultrasound) for one type of view. Another probe (or wand) may be inserted into the vagina to obtain additional views (pelvic or transvaginal ultrasound).
An endometrial biopsy is performed by taking a tissue sample from the uterus. A small instrument is passed through the cervical opening to "grab" small samples of tissue inside the uterus. It can be performed at a doctor's office.
A hysteroscopy looks at the uterus by passing a small fiberoptic camera through the opening of the cervix.
Hysterosalpingography involves injection of dye into the uterus and Fallopian tubes, which is then X-rayed to identify the anatomy of these structures.
Laparoscopy is a surgical procedure. The surgeon will insert a small fiberoptic camera into the abdomen through small abdominal incisions to look directly at internal organs.